System and Method for Configuring Products Over a Communications Network

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for the automated selection of formulations and/or formulation components by specifying product characteristics. In particular, the system and method serve customers within market segments that use selected components as raw materials for manufacture of specialty products and that require an understanding of how the selected components effect performance. For example, such products as electronic circuits, coatings, adhesives, sealants, inks, polishes, cleaners, and detergents fall within the profile of such products.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/643,841, filed Aug. 22, 2000, which claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 60/185,954, filed Feb. 29, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to systems and methods for identifying products for purchase over a computer network. More particularly, the invention relates to the selection and purchase of specialty products over a computer network background of the invention.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Many industries require sophisticated buyer knowledge or extensive seller hand holding in order to properly match a product with a buyer's needs, which is typically a time-consuming, human-resource-intensive task. For example, in the specialty chemical or electronics industry, when a component producer, distributor, manufacturer, industry consultant or consortia, virtual distributors or other value-added party (hereinafter all referred to as “supplier” for convenience) introduces a new component(s) (e.g., a new integrated circuit or new specialty chemical), the supplier must not only inform customers of the availability of the new component but also must inform customers how to integrate the component into a assembled product or formulation (both referred to herein by the term “formulation”). Indeed, some of the suppliers in the chain may provide a new product based on the newly developed component and hence will have to educate customers about the characteristics of the product. Otherwise, potential customers may not fully comprehend the utility of the new component or product and the advance offered by it, resulting in lack of acceptance and/or lost sales.

Consider, for example, the many uses to which TEFLON has been applied since its first introduction (e.g., coating of pots and pans, as an oil additive, etc.). After its introduction, the maker of component products such as TEFLON may continue to introduce new product categories to which its advantages may be brought to bear. If TEFLON, for example, was discovered to bring useful properties to a paint product, then the supplier of TEFLON may want to inform paint formulators about the new paint properties offered by the TEFLON additive. In order to provide the information, particularly to smaller specialty paint manufacturers, the supplier may need to provide a specification sheet outlining the basic ingredient list for formulating a paint product using TEFLON along with performance characteristics of the sample paint formulation to provide a basis for comparison to similarly positioned product.

After paint developers understand the basic technique for integrating TEFLON with paint products, they could further develop and enhance their own—perhaps secret—formulations by incorporating the new additive as suggested by the specification. A similar example in a different context applies to the electronics industry. An integrated circuit supplier may have developed a reduced power clock integrated circuit; however, before integrating the product into higher level circuits, electronics manufactures need to understand both the performance characteristics (so as to entice them to incorporate the new component) and a basic operational circuit (to begin to understand how to incorporate the component into their existing products).

Conventionally, such industries are typified as relying on component specifications that not only describe the performance characteristics of the component but also provide a starter product or formulation that describes one or more basic uses of the component. Customers can then purchase the component or components necessary to build the example product and use the example as a starting point for integration into their own products.

Typically, such markets are serviced by a myriad of suppliers each offering a similar but somewhat different component, making the task of matching a buyer with an appropriate component even more complex. Other than the electronic and chemical industries, other industry examples include industrial gases, pharmaceuticals and food products.

The problem of matching customers with proper components may be further magnified by a fragmented distribution system. For example, the value chain for all industrial chemicals typically contains three steps. First, chemical suppliers (hundreds within the U.S.) manufacture technologies using minerals or petrochemicals as raw materials. Second, manufacturers or ‘formulators’ in various industries buy directly or via distributor from specialty and commodity suppliers to formulate these chemicals directly into finished goods. Third, the finished goods are distributed for use or sale in their final markets.

Given the broad range of market segments and chemicals, the customer base for industrial chemicals has historically been quite fragmented. Even with a wave of consolidation over the past 20 years, there remains a considerable degree of fragmentation in many industrial customer bases. For example, the coatings market, one of the larger markets for industrial chemicals with global revenues of $60-70 billion (in 1999 dollars), has experienced a tremendous level of consolidation in the 1990's. Yet, according to 1997 research from Kusumgar, Nerlfi & Growney (Chemical Research Group), in the U.S., the top 10 coatings producers account for about 50% of sales, the top 50 producers account for about 75% of sales and the remaining 25% is fragmented among 700 different firms. Hence, using the TEFLON example above, in order to capture as many sales as possible for a new use for TEFLON in the coatings market, the manufacture would have to reach and educate 700 different firms to capture the remaining 25% of the coatings market.

The specialty component of industrial chemicals encompasses chemicals that are the primary building blocks for delivering value-added products in a wide range of industries. Specialties are typically blended or ‘formulated’ with industrial commodities to provide the unique performance features that an industrial manufacturer would require. Historically, many specialties have been proprietary in nature and therefore had a limited number of competitive alternatives. Key trends of the past few years have been the maturation of technology, the globalization of specialty chemical suppliers and the resultant advent of price competition. In specialties, a growing number of suppliers can offer very similar technology. In cases where there is little other know-how, service or value that accompanies the sale of such a specialty, price has become the lowest common denominator, and the product has become more of a commodity.

However, for a great many specialty chemicals, there is a need for substantial know-how and service (commonly referred to as “tech service”) in order to keep up with market, technology and customer trends. In segments where this is the case, the manner of formulation of the various specialty chemicals with commodity components will determine eventual system performance and cost for the customer, which typically cannot be compromised for a lower price specialty alternative. In fact, in some cases, a higher priced specialty component may produce the lower cost system performance due to its efficacy in use. In such segments, specialty suppliers spend a large percentage of sales to handhold their customers and support the adoption of their products. Unlike commodity chemicals that are fungible and price driven, tech service for specialties can make all the difference in the selling process to maintain premium pricing. Furthermore, use of tech service has the added benefit of uncovering new customer needs which existing technology cannot meet and, in turn, provides a pipeline for new product development for specialty suppliers. In essence, tech service from specialty suppliers is really a form of outsourced R&D to their customers.

Typical specialty chemical purchasers desire to purchase their chemicals based on performance criteria rather than on specific ingredients. For example, a small manufacturer of paint desiring to produce a new product line may know the performance criteria required of the new product before actually designating the ingredients that deliver the required performance. Hence, such a manufacturer may desire an architectural paint that will be sprayed on a metal substrate and have low odor properties without knowing what particular chemical combination would meet those functional needs. On the other hand, specialty chemical manufacturers may have a chemical component or components that, when mixed into paint formulations, work particularly on a metal substrate while having low odor properties. To date, matching a customer's functional requirements with the proper component or formulation has required human tech service support.

Various Internet sales sites have focused on commodities (e.g., CheMatch, Chemconnect) or laboratory supplies (Chemdex, Sciquest) or supply chain management (Envera, Elemica). Such sites generally provide customer choice, supplier neutrality and lowest cost for fungible products that are sold on (in these examples, on a chemical composition basis). Since a customer for specialty components typically needs to make a decision on a formulated performance basis using a detailed technical data analysis, current Internet models prove inadequate.

Hence, there is a need to provide a method for matching customers with products that are based on a combination of multiple components whose interaction is hard to predict.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system and method for the automated selection of formulations and/or formulation components by specifying product characteristics. In particular, the system and method serve customers within market segments that use selected components as raw materials for manufacture of specialty products and that require an understanding of how the selected components effect performance. For example, such products as electronic circuits, food, pharmacueticals, industrial gases, coatings, adhesives, sealants, inks, polishes, cleaners, and detergents fall within the profile of such products. According to another aspect of the invention, a method and a software system is provided for enabling suppliers in the distribution channel of formulations to obtain, classify, and manage formulation information as end user solutions for internal use or in cooperation with Web sites or other network sites of respective business partners. The system and method are implemented in part by software that runs on a Web site, using an ASP model. Any entity engaged in formulation development or support, referred to herein as “customers” or “users”, can enroll at the Web site to use the system to find, research, store, compare and manage formulations. Users access the system directly from a page on their own Web site or on their intranet.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, business partners, referred to herein as “affiliates”, can act as content providers, as they provide selected starting point formulations to a controlled portion of their customers who are also registered users, thus creating a new vehicle for dissemination of formulations and enriching their customers library of searchable formulations. Users request authorization from each affiliate they wish to connect to, and are then granted access to formulations the affiliates decide to make available to them.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, formulation data sheets, use guides and test results are collected from users and affiliates, classified, interpreted and stored in the system database. This process enables the formulation to be used as a tool to ascertain direct fit with end user needs, rather than merely providing a list of ingredients.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings exemplary constructions of the invention; however, the invention should not be limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is schematic diagram representing a network computer model in which aspects of the present invention may be incorporated;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of aspects of the architecture of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example hierarchical layout of a database in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an alternative data structure of the present invention using a data cube;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram representation of aspect of the flow of information through the system of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate block diagrams of a electronic component formulation;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of the process for compiling formulations for storage on the system of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a general process for a user to sort through a formulation database to select a set of matching formulations;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart that illustrates the flow through the system to arrive at a set of formulations in accordance with the illustrative web pages of FIGS. 10-16;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a user interface for selecting a vertical market to which a set of formulations relate;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a user interface for selecting an end use within a vertical market;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a user interface whereby a customer defines characteristics of the formulation sought;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a user interface wherein a customer ranks characteristics of formulations sought;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of a user interface output of formulation according to rank;

FIG. 15 is an illustration of a user interface output of particular components of a selected formulation;

FIG. 16 is an illustration of a user interface for comparing formulations in a side-by-side fashion; and

FIG. 17 is an illustration of an auction process in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an Internet-based platform that aggregates formulations (i.e., product specifications wherein the product is assembled from one or components and wherein the specification impart the understanding to build at least a prototype product) from one or more suppliers so that manufacturers/suppliers/distributors (herein all referred to as suppliers for clarity) may use the platform as a standard repository of formulations so that they can provide customers with access to the formulations. The platform further has the capability to retrieve the formulations on the basis of specified performance criteria.

Although the system is useful for individual suppliers to maintain their own sets of formulations, the system may also be employed across suppliers within an entire vertical market thereby providing a standard repository of formulations within a vertical market. As a consequence, customers may provide performance criteria to locate formulations that most appropriately meet their needs from a variety of suppliers.

The invention also presents a system for driving the purchase of the components that comprise the various formulations by purchasing the component or components in the context of the utility derived from its interaction with the other components of a given formulation.

In the following discussion, the phrase “target segments” refers to those industry segments wherein know-how is essential to supporting and making the sale. In the specialty chemical industry, for example, target segments include coatings, adhesives, sealants, inks, polishes, cleaners, detergents, pharmaceuticals, agrochemical, plastics, textile, and so on and total in the billions of dollars globally. Characteristics of the customer base in the target segments are that raw materials (both the specialty components and commodities) frequently are a high percentage of sales, specialty chemical dollar value is about 25% of total raw material cost, barriers to entry related to manufacturing infrastructure are quite low and, consequently, fragmentation of the customer base (particularly at the tail end of the market) is quite significant.

1. Formulation Know-How

Formulations are developed by combining multiple specialty and commodity chemicals (“ingredients”) supplied by specialty and industrial chemical suppliers. As part of their tech service initiatives, chemical suppliers develop recommended starting point formulations which typically contain ingredients from multiple producers. The interaction of ingredients (in specific quantities and order of addition) is what creates performance characteristics that address the needs of formulators. Unfortunately, starting point formulations are typically classified by main ingredients rather than by performance criteria, which more directly corresponds to a formulator's needs. This issue is confounded by the fact that formulators do not have an effective way of finding and utilizing such starting point formulations due to their many sources, formats, media, versions and credibility. The net result is that formulators must follow a lengthy trial and error experiment process before arriving at a solution that meets the formulator's requirements.

Small customers often source their formulation components from distributors and, consequently, rely on them for tech service. It can be a cost prohibitive/low return effort for specialty component suppliers to focus their own tech service capabilities on smaller buying accounts versus their larger direct buying accounts. Instead, when possible, suppliers resort to training distributor reps on component formulation expertise. Such reps are typically regionally focused, asked to sell a broad range of components and lack a technical background. As a result, these reps are ineffective at offering value-added tech service, and many smaller customers are forced to make uninformed or expensive decisions in choosing the right formulation or component for their need. Some customers may have some in-house formulation or design competency, but it is typically narrow, embodied in one individual and may not be sufficiently exposed to new developments of components and formulations in the market.

To address the needs outlined, according to an aspect of the invention, the system employs a formulation configuration process. This process begins with a series of inquiries to determine such criteria as the vertical market or target segment in which the customer operates and what the customer's needs are within that market. The system then uses a formulation database to generate formulation and supply options that contain components that match the customer's specified needs. With each option there may be a corresponding performance and cost profile, an order entry form to request sample materials, and testing procedures for verifying test results within the customer's own laboratory.

2. Lowest Cost Formulations

Large customers have direct access to the technical personnel of specialty and commodity suppliers who can help them optimize formulations to achieve the lowest cost for a given performance goal. Even still, suppliers often will not, for competitive reasons, make their large customers aware of all possible solutions. Smaller customers, on the other hand, must rely on their local distributor, who not only lacks technical sophistication (as mentioned above), but also typically only support a narrow range of competing commodities. In cases, where commodities can be substituted to achieve an improved cost profile, a single distributor can offer very little. This is a source of significant savings since commodities typically represent between 50-75% of the formulated cost. Consequently, the ability of the small customer to optimize cost is quite limited given the limited choice available.

During the formulation configuration process, the customer can specify both the performance and the cost profile it is seeking. The invention will provide matching solutions and may include a list of possible substitutes for component commodities in the formulation. The customer may then be asked to forecast its annual formulation requirements so that the system can send out electronic requests for quotations. The customer may review all quotation on a ‘line by line’ basis by individual components or on a formulated basis to ascertain which components and which solution they would like to pursue.

3. A Network Environment

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network environment in which the invention may be employed. Of course, actual network and server environments can be arranged in a variety of configurations; however, the exemplary environment shown here provides a framework for understanding the type of environment in which the present invention operates.

The network may include client computers 20 a, a server computer 20 b, and data 70 accessible via server computer 20 b. The client computers 20 a are in electronic communication with the server computer 20 b via communications network 80, e.g., an intranet. Client computers 20 a are connected to the communications network by way of communications interfaces 82. Communications interfaces 82 can be any one of the well-known communications interfaces such as Ethernet connections, modem connections, and so on.

Server computer 20 b provides management of data 70 by way of server software such as database server system software, described more fully below. As such, server 20 b acts as a gatekeeper of data from a variety of data sources and provides that data to a variety of data consumers. Server computer 20 b may maintain data in a relational database such as SQL Server available from Microsoft Corporation. Client computers 20 a that desire to use access data stored by server computer 20 b can access the data 70 via communications network 80. In the example wherein server 20 b comprises a database server, such as a SQL server, client computers 20 a request the data by way of SQL queries (e.g., update, insert, and delete) on the data stored in database 70.

Database 70 comprises a set of formulations along with other relevant data. For example, the database may comprise a set of specialty chemical formulations for paint, adhesives, ink, and so on. Additionally, the database may comprise a product formulated according to a number of subsystems or components, e.g., computer systems.

Where server computer 20 b and client computers 20 a are connected by way of an intranet or the Internet, communications may be facilitated by HTML, XML, and so on. Client computers 20 a may employ a browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. Client computers 20 a may represent suppliers, distributors, and/or buyers of formulations and/or components of the stored in database 70.

4. Formulation Web Server and ASP Model

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary architecture for the system in accordance with an aspect of the invention. Here, the formulations web site comprises a web server 20 b that receives and delivers content to clients 20 a by way of the Internet 80. The content is preferably exchanged in the form of HTML, XML, or some like form of data exchange format created and/or maintained in data store 70 a. Information in the form of formulation data received, preferably electronically by way of the Internet, from suppliers (e.g., web server 20 a′) is classified and stored in a database 70 b. Formulation web site 20 b′ also maintains a database of affiliates 70 c so that various affiliate information can be maintained and formulation database 70 b can be maintained on a affiliate basis. Additionally users can set up accounts and maintain information in database 70 d, and set preferences that are stored in preferences database 70 e. Hence, the affiliates can use the system in an ASP model wherein all of their data would be conceptually maintained separate from other affiliates. All requests to the affiliate can be redirected to the Formulation web site 20 b′ to service the request. To a customer, the system would appear as though the affiliate were providing the formulations,

According to an aspect of the invention, users 20 a can access formulation data stored in formulation database 70 b by directly accessing formulation web server 20 b. Therein, user 20 a may have access to formulation data in its entirety or to selected formulation data based on a specific supplier. Additionally, user 20 a may access formulation data by way of web server 20 a′, wherein web server 20 a′ redirects requests over to web server 20 b in accordance with know redirection techniques. Once connected to web server 20 b, redirected user 20 a may have access to formulation data 70 b in accordance with a previously arranged subset of formulation data that was negotiated between web server 20 b and web server 20 a′. This may include for example, all public formulation information maintained in formulation database 70 b or a set of privately maintained formulation data maintained by the formulation web site on behalf of web server 20 a′.

By allowing suppliers to store their formulations on the formulation web site, a common formulation format can be achieved across an industry and a common methodology of extracting formulations based on characteristics can be achieved. As a result, suppliers can combine/group or otherwise share formulation data that is uniformly accessible. Additionally, suppliers can provide the formulation data to distributors or other entities that way desire to have a structured formulation database that can be accessed by way of performance characteristics.

5. Formulation Database Structure

FIG. 3 illustrates a hierarchical view of one embodiment of the organization of the formulations stored in database 70. The structure of FIG. 3 may be conceptually similar to the organization of data in other web site search engines wherein the same formulation may appear at different nodes in the tree and may be categorized under more than one search path. Conceptually, the database is organized by vertical market 72. Here, example vertical markets 72 include Adhesives, Paint, Sealant, and Ink; however, the invention contemplates the application of the present model to other products comprised wherein those products are configured from a selection of multiple components. Each of the vertical markets is further defined by market segments 73 that help a customer further identify a particular application (e.g., Architectural, OEM, Special Purpose). Within each of those segments, the formulations are further categorized by application 74 (e.g., siding, trim, wall, etc.). Further categories apply to further classify and categorize the formulations. Here, for example, each of the applications is categorized as interior or exterior 75 and water-based or solvent based 76 and so on until the lowest nodes in the categorization tree provides the categorized formulation. Note, however, that a given formulation may appear as a leaf node under multiple paths through the tree. That is a particular formulation may be suitable in multiple categories (e.g., Architectural and OEM).

Although the example hierarchy of FIG. 3 shows all of the formulations A, B, and C fitting nicely into the leaf nodes (e.g., Solvent Based), the formulations will also be categorized within each node along the path (as indicated in the Figure with an “x” in the appropriate node). Hence, for example, Formulation A may be searched for and located under any one of or combination of the nodes “Paint”, “Architecture”, “Wall”, “Interior”, and “Solvent Based”.

FIG. 4 provides another example of how the formulations may be organized and located. Here, an n dimensional cube 77 provides a pointer to a list of formulations that meet the criteria of the intersection of all of the attributes. For example, pointer n points to a set 78 a of formulations that are useful as Special Purpose, Water-Based, Metal applications; whereas, pointer m points to a set 78 b of formulations that are useful in producing Special Purpose, Solvent-Based, Metal applications.

6. Formulation System

FIG. 5 presents a schematic of a system for carrying out the process of the present invention. Essentially, customers 20 a enter the system by way of an Internet connection into a web site. There, customers 20 a find a formulation based on particular application requirements. Suppliers 20 a′ and/or distributors 20 a″ provide formulations for categorization and storage in database 70. Typically, the formulation information is provided by supplier driven research and development. New products and formulations are introduced by way of advertising, samples and etc. provided to customers 20 a. Suppliers 20 a′ and/or distributors 20 a″ provide pricing information and accept delivery. The formulations provided by suppliers 20 a′ and distributors 20 a″ are entered into database 70 for selection by customers 20 a.

When new products are introduced, suppliers 20 a′ and distributors 20 a″ can provide product advertising, literature, instructional information and so on, in order to educate potential customers about the virtue of a new formulation. Moreover, the instructional information may be precisely targeted based on selections made by customers 20 a in arriving at formulation selections.

As alluded to above, customers 20 a are generally buying products that require some assembly on the part of customers 20 a. Hence, for example, a customer 20 a seeking to buy paint is likely to supply end products incorporating the paint to others. For example, they may be a small paint supplier that does not have a sophisticated internal research and development team to discover or invent a new paint additive that produces a desirable property. On the other hand, customers 20 a may have the sophistication to assemble the components supplied by suppliers 20 a′ and/or distributor 20 a″. So after the customer has selected a formulation, the components will be delivered to the customer for assembly.

For example, a paint formulation may comprise a formulation such as the paint formulation illustrated in Table 1, below.

Supplier Wt. Vol % Disperse Alkyd Resin McWhorter 5811 206.8 23.91 Titanium Dioxide Kronos 2090 310.2 9.10 n-Butyl Acetate Union Carbide 52.7 7.16 Then Add Alkyd Resin McWhorter 5811 206.7 23.90 n-Butyl Acetate Union Carbide 164.4 22.33 Acrylated Melamine Solutia Santolink AM 547 100.7 11.32 Resin Flow Modifier Byk 300 2.1 0.27 Drier Blend 18% Cobalt Manosec 18% 1.3 0.14 18% Ziconium Manosec 18% 4.1 0.45 10% Calcium Manosec 10% 7.7 0.96 Drier Accelerator Activ-8 (R. T. Vanderbilt) 2.1 0.26 Anti-Skinning Agent Exkin #2 (Huls AG) 1.5 0.20

The supplier may designate the properties for this formulation as Application: Exterior, Metal; No Odor; Set-to-Touch, 20 min; Tack Free 90 min; etc. So that the formulation can be classified accordingly, for example, in the tree of FIG. 3.

Such a formulation may be delivered to the Formulation Web Server by way of an uploaded XML file. For example, the formulation may follow a format as follows:

<FormulationRecord> <Category>Paint</Category> <Market>Architectural</Market> . . . <FormulationName>Interior Latex - Gold line</FormulationName> <FormulationAuthor>Golden Coatings S.A.</FormulationAuthor> <FormulationValidationStatus>Y</ FormulationValidationStatus> <Performance Criterion> No Odor</Performance Criterion> . . . </ FormulationRecord>

Upon receiving an XML file bearing a formulation, the system of the present invention will attempt to properly categorize the information. Here, for example, the formulation will be categorized under Paint, Architectural, etc. Its performance characteristics will be set to No Odor, etc. In this way, supplier can continually add new formulations to the system by upload an XML file,

An example of electronic integrated circuit (IC) formulations are illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Here, an integrated circuit manufacturer has developed an IC that has a number of useful applications. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the circuit can be used to AC couple an external CMOS clock powered from a single positive supply voltage. Whereas, in FIG. 6B, the same IC is configured to filter AC signals from high DC voltages. Characteristics for the IC might be 5 volt power, input frequency range 0-20K, clock to cut-off frequency ratio of 100, filter gain at input frequency of 16 kHz of −52, etc. Using such characteristic the integrated circuit can be characterized accordingly in a tree structure similar in concept to the tree structure for the specialty chemicals illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 provides an example flow diagram of the process of acquiring formulations in accordance with the present invention. The first step (step 702) is a standards gathering process wherein testing protocols available from industry associations and government agencies (such as ASTM) are collected. The output of the gathering process is a classification of the testing standards (step 703). After developing a standard classification system for a given product, Formulation Data sheets, Use guide, Test results and Test methods (various media) are collected from suppliers (step 704) and that formulation data is formatted for storage in a database (step 705). The gathered formulation data is then classified according to the previous designed classification system (steps 706, 707). Where necessary, the standards gathered in prior steps are used to perform manual classification of each formulation, including product data and test results (steps 708, 709). The data is then loaded onto the server and made available for searching (steps 710, 711).

FIG. 8 provides an example flow diagram of the process of a customer stepping through the Formulation Web Site to derive a set of formulations. In a first step (step 802, 803) in the process, the customer enters information that defines the formulation application, e.g., coatings, glue, clock circuits, etc. Thereafter the customer enters limits and prioritizes features in selecting the formulation (step 804). From this, a set of requirements are defined (step 805). These requirements are used to generate a query (step 806) and the matching results are output (step 807). After the results are output, the consumer can view the results and request comparison data (steps 808, 809). The formulation details can be requested and viewed (steps 810, 811). Thereafter, the consumer can select desired ones of the formulations to save for later, purchase components, and etc. (steps 812, 813).

FIG. 9 provides an exemplary flow chart of a customer navigation through the system of FIG. 5 to arrive at a set of formulations. This flow chart roughly corresponds to the information and user interface described in connection with FIGS. 10-16. Initially, at step 40, customer 20 a selects a vertical market. As shown, in FIG. 10, for example, web site 60 presents a web page 62 a wherein a customer 20 a may select from one of Paint & Coatings, Adhesives & Sealants, Personal Care, Soap & Detergent, Inks & Graphic Arts, and Textiles. In a different context, for example a computer context, customer 20 a would select from a different set of vertical markets. Selection of a vertical market from web page 62 causes system 20 b to present web page 62 b. Here, in accordance with step 42 of FIG. 5, customer 20 a selects a product end use 620. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, under the Paint & Coatings vertical market, the user selects the appropriate end use 73 to further define customer 20 a 's needs. Each of the end uses 73 has an associated drop down menu of selections. For example, selecting drop down box 73 a for Architectural end use 73 presents the selections shown in box 74 a from which a customer 20 a may further define the end use. For example, customer 20 a may select Wall, Semi-Gloss, Gloss, and High-Gloss. Similarly, drop down boxes 73 b and 73 c, corresponding to OEM and Special Purpose end uses, respectively, have associated selections 74 b and 74 c, respectively. After making a selection from the appropriate drop down box 73, customer 20 a next further defines the selected product characteristics as indicated by step 44 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is an example web page that illustrates one embodiment whereby a customer 20 a further defines performance characteristics of the formulation sought. Here, for example, customer 20 a is presented with six questions in the form of slide bars and radio buttons. All of these questions are dynamically based on the previously selected end use selected from the previous web page (e.g., web page 62 b of FIG. 11). For example, customer 20 a may further indicate that the formulation sought is Water Based, for Interior use, to be applied to Metal substrate, with a Spray on applicator with a VOC level of about 250 g/L, and should possess low odor qualities. As customer 20 a further differentiates the formulation sought, some of the characteristics may not be as significant to customer 20 a 's needs. Hence, some of the characteristics may be defined according to a more fuzzy logic.

FIG. 13 presents a web page 62 d that illustrates a mechanism whereby the user may rank certain of the characteristics of the formulation sought (in accordance with step 48 of FIG. 5). In this example, customer 20 a may select certain characteristics and indicate the relative importance of that characteristic to other ones of the characteristics of the formulation sought. For example, customer 20 a can set the priority of Set To Touch as Required and set the priority of other characteristic the same or different such as Desirable or Not Important. Thereafter and as illustrated by step 50 of FIG. 9, a query is generated to query database 70 (see FIG. 1) to select the set of formulations matching the customer 20 a 's selections. The results are output according to a ranking as illustrated by web page 62 e of FIG. 14. In that output, formulations and unit costs are presented to customer 20 a along with the number of set characteristics matched. For example, Formulation 1 had 3 of 3 characteristics that were set to Desirable, as indicated by 642. By selecting one of the formulations presented, an additional detailed web page is presented (e.g., web page 62 f of FIG. 15). In the detailed web page, the formulation is broken down by components along with suppliers that supply various ones of the components.

Customer 20 a may choose to compare the various formulations that were resulted from the selected inputs. FIG. 16 presents an example web page output 62 g that illustrates one such side-by-side comparison. Here, Formulations 1, 2, and 3 are compared to one another along with various characteristics. A unit price may be presented for each that provides an additional basis for comparison.

According to an embodiment of the invention, after a customer or user of the system has used the system to locate formula of interest, the customer can then follow the formulation to build or fabricate the formulation from the components. Using the formulation of FIG. 15 as an example, the customer would disperse the alkyd resin, titanium dioxide, and n-butyl acetate, then add the additional alkyd resin, n-butyl acetate, acrylated melamine resin, and flow modifier, then drier blend the cobalt, zirconium, calcium, drier accelerator, and anti-skinning agent. This starting point formulation could be used for testing purposes, experimentation, manufacture and so on.

According to an aspect of the invention, the starting point formulations can also be used to perform modeling. Stand alone modeling software has been available to run in a WINDOWS Operating System environment such as the Laboratory Module available from BatchMaster Software group of eWorkplace Solutions of Laguna Hills, Calif. Here, the modelling software would be tied to the formulator output. For example, during the product development process, formulators need to achieve certain performance characteristics. As they achieve a certain level of performance, formulators perform lab bench experiments to test how a formulation's performance properties react to changes in ingredients. This trial and error process allows them to fine tune a formulation and establish the best set of properties they can find. Such experiments are performed in a controlled environment, i.e., only one ingredient is changed at a time, and resulting performance properties are recorded. For example, a flat paint formulation may contain ingredients such as: water, solvent, thickener, inert pigment, anti-freeze, latex, Titanium Dioxide, and the formulator may have properties goals such as Ph=8.5 to 9.0, KU=95 to 100. One set of experiments may include testing 4 types of thickeners and record the resulting values of Ph and KU.

Most of a chemist's time is spent running those experiments (which includes setting it up, testing, measuring results and documenting them). The model will use statistical regression to predict the performance properties (Ph and KU in our example) associated with additional thickener types by using the original thickeners data points along with the corresponding performance properties. If the regression successfully explains enough of the correlation between those two types of variables (thickener and Ph/KU), the formulator would be able to skip a number of experiments thus saving significant time.

According to an alternative embodiment, the system may generate a list of formulation options or solutions that includes a list of substitute commodity raw materials which are interchangeable within the formulation and “typical” pricing on these commodities.

According to an aspect of the invention, after a set of formulations are selected that met customer 20 a qualifications, components of the formulation are available for purchase by the customer. This can be done according to a straight forward purchase at the quoted price, either directly or by way of a distributor, or alternatively according to an auction methodology. It should be appreciated that a customer can also go directly to the set of formulations or a particular formulation by, for example, performing a search on the web site.

According to one auction embodiment, component suppliers provide a price to supply components based on the total amount required. Thus if a component is fifty percent of one formulation and 60% of another, a better price may be offered on the 60% formulation. Because the unit cost of the formulation is a function of the combination of all of the components, the comparison price of the various formulations will depend on the assembled cost of all of the separately priced components.

According to another auction embodiment, specialty ingredients within the formulation are specified as “no equal”, but all other ingredients are specific as “as equal”. An electronic reverse auction commences in which participants (i.e., suppliers 20 a′ and/or distributors 20 a″) bid on individual components within the formulation over a fixed timeframe. Customer 20 a is able to observe the bid and see how the formulated cost declines with each lower input price offered. Customer 20 a chooses set of distributor(s) 20 a″ and supplier(s) 20 a′ for a quarterly contract based upon lowest price and other intangibles (quality of distributor service, etc.). Each distributor 20 a″ or supplier 20 a′ will be linked to an electronic order entry interface that each customer 20 a will use for future order fulfillment and technical service on an ongoing basis.

The invention will track pricing, purchasing patterns and commodity trends on behalf of its customers 20 a in order to alert them when cost improvement opportunities become evident or it has become appropriate to re-bid based on changed market conditions.

FIG. 17 further illustrates the auction feature in accordance with an aspect of the invention. In this example, a customer 20 a is presented with three competing formulations. Each formulation may have slightly different characteristics but each was selected by the system as meeting the customers stated performance specifications. All of the formulations contain similar ingredients. For example, they all contain ingredients Y and Z, albeit in slightly differing amounts. Formulations A and B each contain ingredient X but in slightly different percentage compositions; whereas formulations B and C each contain ingredients W in the same percentage composition. Each of the different ingredients may be supplied by different suppliers 20 a′. For example, Supplier 1 supplies U, Supplier 2 supplies X, and Supplier 3 supplies Y. The total price of a given formulation is controlled by the combined price of all of the ingredients. So that the effect of a particular ingredient on the overall price of a particular formulation is a function of its percentage of the composition as well as its price. Hence, if Formulations A or C are accepted by the customer, Supplier 3 will have sold a larger percentage of the formulation than if Formulation B is accepted (10% versus 7%). The same is true for Supplier 1 with respect to Formulations A and C (if Formulation B is sold Supplier 1 makes no contribution to the sale) and Supplier 2 with respect to Formulations A and B.

The dynamics of multiple suppliers 20 a′ having disparate interests in the overall transaction may operate to change the price of the bids for each of the formulations offered to customer 20 a.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments have been shown in the drawings and accompanying detailed description. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific constructions disclosed herein. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

1-57. (canceled)
 58. A method for providing technical support information for making at least a portion of a product from a particular configuration of constituent components including at least one of a plurality of different non-fungible components in combination with fungible components, the technical support information being provided from a remotely located server to a user of a client computer coupled to the Internet by the method comprising the following steps: maintaining a database of technical support information including the identity of the non-fungible components and fungible components to be combined in different solutions for different applications; providing a communications link at the database in communication with the server; maintaining an interactive web site hosted by the server; identifying different applications for at least a portion of a product to the user of the client computer on the interactive website; accepting a selection of one of the different applications for at least a portion of a product for the selected one of the applications by the user of the client computer by on the interactive website; presenting a set of characteristics for the one of the different applications selected on the interactive website; accepting a specification of requirements for a plurality of the characteristics in the presented set on the interactive website; presenting a plurality of solutions on the interactive website wherein each of the solutions have characteristics substantially matching the specification of requirements and each of the solutions comprises one of the different non-fungible components combined with commodity components; accepting a selection of more than one and less than all of the plurality of solutions for comparison on the interactive website; presenting sets of characteristics for the accepted selection of solutions for comparison on the interactive website including any differences in the characteristics of the solutions for comparison; accepting a selection of at least one of the solutions for comparison on the interactive website; presenting technical support information on the interactive website for making the at least one of the solutions selected, the technical support information including information concerning the at least one of the non-fungible components and additional information identifying the fungible components which may be assembled with the at least one of the different non-fungible components to make the at least one of the solutions selected; and presenting an offer to sell the of the selected at least one of the solutions on the interactive website alone and unassembled with any of the non-fungible components.
 59. The method of claim 58 wherein the interactive website includes a plurality of user interfaces and the accepting of a specification of requirements for a plurality of the characteristics and the accepting of a selection of the one of the different applications occur at different user interfaces.
 60. The method of claim 58 wherein the interactive website comprises a plurality of web pages.
 61. The method of claim 60 wherein the technical support information is presented on at least one of the web pages of the interactive website.
 62. The method of claim 61 wherein the interactive website includes a plurality of interactive user interfaces.
 63. The method of claim 58 wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise a numerical specification of a requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set.
 64. The method of claim 63 wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise a numerical range for at least one of the characteristics in the set.
 65. The method of claim 63 wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise at least one feature requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set.
 66. The method of claim 58 including accepting a prioritizing of at least one of the requirements specified.
 67. The method of claim 58 wherein the presenting of the sets of characteristics of the selected solutions for comparison are side-by-side on the interactive website.
 68. The method of claim 58 wherein the solutions comprise electronic circuits including at least one integrated circuit assembled with other components and the specified requirements of the characteristics in the set include integrated circuit parameters.
 69. The method of claim 58 wherein the technical support information includes the cost of the at least one non-fungible component in the selected at least one of the selected solutions.
 70. The method of claim 69 further comprising accepting an order for purchasing the non-fungible component of the selected at least one of the solutions on the interactive website.
 71. The method of claim 58 further comprising presenting the identification of different applications in different markets on the interactive website and accepting a selection of one of the markets on the interactive website before selecting one of the different applications.
 72. A system for promoting the use of a supplier's non-fungible specialty components in combination with fungible commodity components in making products, comprising: a supplier computer means for providing technical support information relating to the supplier's specialty components supplied by the supplier, the technical support information providing different solutions for different applications by combining different non-fungible specialty components with different fungible commodity components; a server computer means and storage medium; a communications link between the supplier computer means and the server computer means and storage medium for transmitting the technical support information for storage at the storage medium and use by the server computer means; the server computer means hosting an interactive web site and communicating with the Internet for providing technical support information to a user of a client computer in communication with the Internet by presenting: (a) at least one application selection interface identifying different applications to the user of the client computer and accepting a selection of an application from the user of the client computer; (b) at least one solutions selection interface presented to the user of the client computer in response to the selection of an applications at the at least one application selection interface, the at least one solutions selection interface providing the following: identifying a set of characteristics for the application selected, accepting from the user of the client computer a specification of requirements for a plurality of the characteristics in the identified set, identifying a plurality of solutions having profiles of characteristics for the identified set substantially matching the specified requirements where each of the solutions comprises a different combination of at least one non-fungible component and other commodity components, accepting a selection of more than one and less than all of the plurality of solutions for comparison: presenting profiles of characteristics for the accepted selection of solutions for comparison including differences in the characteristics of the profiles, accepting from the user of the client computer a selection of at least one of the solutions selected for comparison, providing the technical support information stored in the database concerning the at least one non-fungible component of the at least one of the solutions selected and a link to additional information identifying other fungible components which may be assembled with the at least one non-fungible component to make the selected at least one of the solutions, and presenting an offer to sell the at least one non-fungible component of the selected one of the at least one of the solutions alone without the other fungible components which may be assembled with the at least one specialty component.
 73. The system of claim 72 wherein the at least one solutions selection interface comprises one interface for specifying the requirements and another interface for selecting the solution.
 74. The system of claim 72 wherein the at least one solutions selection interface comprises at least one web page of the web site.
 75. The system of claim 72 wherein the technical support information is displayed on at least one web page of the web site.
 76. The system of claim 72 wherein the at least one solutions selection interface comprises at least one web page of the web site.
 77. The system of claim 72 wherein the at least one solutions selection interface accepts from the user of the client computer a numerical specification of a requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set.
 78. The system of claim 77 wherein the numerical specification comprises a numerical range for at least one of the characteristics in the set.
 79. The system of claim 77 wherein the at least one solutions selection interface accepts from the user of the client computer a specification of at least one feature requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set.
 80. The system of claim 72 wherein the at least one solutions selection interface accepts a prioritization from a user of the client computer to prioritize at least one of the requirements specified.
 81. The system of claim 72 wherein the characteristics of the profiles are displayed side-by-side on the at least one solutions selection interface.
 82. The system of claim 72 wherein the one at least one solution selected comprises an electronic circuit including at least one integrated circuit assembled with other components and the specified requirements of the characteristics in the set comprise integrated circuit parameters.
 83. The system of claim 82 wherein the technical support information includes parameters for the integrated circuit of the at least one selected solution.
 84. The system of claim 72 wherein the at least one application selection interface comprises a web page of the website.
 85. The system of claim 72 wherein the at least one solutions selection interface accepts from the user of the client computer a selection of the set of characteristics to be displayed.
 86. The system of claim 72 wherein the at least one solutions selection interface presents the profiles of characteristics of the solutions selected for comparison side-by-side.
 87. The system of claim 72 wherein the at least one solutions selection interface accepts from the user of the client computer a selection of the set of characteristics to be displayed.
 88. The system of claim 72 wherein the at least one solutions selection interface accepts from the user of the client computer a selection of more than one but less than all of the plurality of solutions displayed for comparison and subsequently presents only the profiles of the solutions selected for comparison.
 89. A method for providing technical support information for making at least a portion of a product from a particular configuration of constituent components including at least one of a plurality of different non-fungible components in combination with fungible components, the technical support information being provided on an interactive web site hosted by a server in communication with the Internet so as to present at least one user interface for display on a display device at a client computer having a communications interface with the Internet, the method comprising: maintaining, on a computer-readable storage medium, a database of technical support information including the identity of the different non-fungible components which may be combined with fungible components to provide different solutions for different applications; maintaining, at the computer-readable storage medium, a communications link providing access to the database by the server hosting the interactive web site; presenting, on a user interface, an output from the server identifying different applications for at least a portion of a product; accepting, on a user interface, a selection of one of the different applications for at least a portion of a product; presenting, on a user interface, an output from the server identifying a set of characteristics for the one of the different applications selected; accepting, on a user interface, an input representing a specification of requirements for a plurality of the characteristics in the set; presenting, on a user interface, an output from the server representing a plurality of solutions wherein each of the solutions have characteristics substantially matching the specification of requirements and each of the solutions comprises one of the different non-fungible components to be combined with fungible components; accepting, on a user interface, an input representing a selection of more than one and less than all of the plurality of solutions for comparison; presenting, on a user interface, an output from the server representing only the characteristics for the selected solutions for comparison; accepting, on a user interface, a selection of at least one of the more than one and less than all of the solutions for comparison; presenting, on a user interface, a link to technical support information for making the at least one of the solutions selected, the technical support information including information concerning the at least one of the non-fungible components and additional information concerning the fungible components which may be assembled with the at least one non-fungible component to make the at least one of the solutions selected; and presenting, on a user interface, an offer to sell the at least one non-fungible component of the selected at least one of the solutions alone and unassembled with any non-fungible components.
 89. The method of claim 88 wherein the accepting of a specification of requirements for a plurality of the characteristics and the accepting of a selection of the one of the different applications occur on different user interfaces.
 90. The method of claim 89 wherein the different user interfaces comprise different web pages of the web site.
 91. The method of claim 88 wherein the accepting of a selection of more than one and less than all of the solutions for comparison and the presenting of the characteristics for the selected solutions for comparison occur at different user interfaces.
 92. The method of claim 91 wherein the different user interfaces comprise different web pages of the web site.
 93. The method of claim 88 wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise a numerical specification of a requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set.
 94. The method of claim 93 wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise a numerical range for at least one of the characteristics in the set.
 95. The method of claim 93 wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise at least one feature requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set.
 96. The method of claim 88 wherein the presenting of the characteristics for the selected solutions for comparison occurs on the same user interface with the characteristics of each of selected solutions presented side-by-side with the characteristics of another of the selected solutions.
 97. The method of claim 96 wherein the same user interface comprises a web page of the web site.
 98. The method of claim 88 wherein the solutions comprise electronic circuits, the non-fungible components comprise integrated circuits, the fungible components comprise passive components and the specified requirements of the characteristics in the set include integrated circuit parameters.
 99. The method of claim 88 wherein the technical support information includes the cost of the at least one non-fungible component in the selected at least one of the selected solutions.
 100. The method of claim 88 further comprising accepting an order for purchasing the non-fungible component of the at least one of the selected solutions on a user interface.
 101. A method for providing technical support information for making at least a portion of a product from a particular configuration of constituent components including at least one of a plurality of different non-fungible components to be used in combination with fungible components, the method comprising the following steps for providing the technical support information to a user of a client computer coupled to the Internet with access to an interactive website hosted by a server, the website including a plurality of web pages: maintaining, on a computer-readable storage medium, a database of technical support information including the identity of the different specialty components which may be combined with non-fungible components to provide different solutions for different applications; maintaining, at the computer-readable storage medium, a communications link providing access to the database by the server hosting the interactive website; providing at least one the web pages for identifying to a user of a client computer different applications for at least a portion of a product; providing at least one of the web pages for accepting a selection by a user of a client computer of one of the different applications for at least a portion of the product; providing at least one of the web pages for identifying to a user of a client computer a set of characteristics for the one of the different applications selected; providing at least one of the web pages for accepting a specification by a user of a client computer of requirements for a plurality of the characteristics in the set; providing at least one of the web pages for identifying to a user of a client computer a plurality of solutions wherein each of the solutions has characteristics substantially matching the specification of requirements and each of the solutions comprises one of the different non-fungible components to be combined with commodity components; providing at least one of the web pages for accepting a selection by a user of a client computer of more than one and less than all of the plurality of solutions for comparison; providing at least one of the web pages for presenting to a user of a client computer only characteristics for the selected solutions for comparison; providing at least one of the web pages for accepting a selection by a user of a client computer at least one of the more than one and less than all of the solutions for comparison; providing at least one of the pages for presenting to a user of a client computer access to technical support information including information concerning the at least one of the non-fungible components and additional information concerning the fungible components which may be assembled with the at least one specialty component to make the at least one of the solutions selected; and providing at least one of the web pages for presenting to a user of a client computer access to an offer to sell the at least one non-fungible component of the selected solution alone and unassembled with any non-fungible components.
 102. The method of claim 101 wherein the at least one web page provided for accepting the specification of requirements for a plurality of the characteristics is different from the at least one web page for accepting the selection of different applications.
 103. The method of claim 101 wherein the at least one web page provided for accepting of the selection of more than one and less than all of the solutions for comparison is different from the at least one web page provided for presenting of the characteristics for the selected solutions.
 104. The method of claim 101 wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise a numerical specification of a requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set.
 105. The method of claim 104 wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise a numerical range for at least one of the characteristics in the set.
 106. The method of claim 101 wherein the accepted specification requirements comprise at least one feature requirement for at least one of the characteristics in the set.
 107. The method of claim 101 wherein the presenting of the characteristics for the selected solutions for comparison occurs on the same web page with the characteristics of each of selected solutions presented side-by-side with the characteristics of another of the selected solutions.
 108. The method of claim 101 wherein the solutions comprise electronic circuits, the non-fungible components comprise integrated circuits, the fungible components comprise passive components and the specified requirements of the characteristics in the set include integrated circuit parameters.
 109. The method of claim 101 wherein the technical support information includes the cost of the at least one non-fungible component in the selected at least one of the selected solutions. 